Intel HD Graphics 610 vs Intel UHD Graphics 630 vs Intel Iris Graphics 550

Intel HD Graphics 610

The Intel HD Graphics 610 (GT1) is an integrated graphics unit, which can be found in low-end ULV (Ultra Low Voltage) processors of the Kaby-Lake generation. This "GT1" version of the Skylake GPU offers 12 Execution Units (EUs) clocked at up to 950 MHz (depending on the CPU model). Due to its lack of dedicated graphics memory or eDRAM cache, the HD 610 has to access the main memory (2x 64bit DDR3L-1600 / DDR4-2133).

The successor of the HD 610 is the renamed UHD Graphics 610 in the Whisky-Lake and Comet-Lake Pentium CPUs.

Performance

Depending on various factors like memory configuration, the HD Graphics 610 should similar to the old Skylake HD Graphics 510 and therefore can only handle non demanding games. E.g. Farming Simulator 17, World of Warships or Dota 2 Reborn can be played on low settings.

Features

The revised video engine now supports H.265/HEVC Main10 profile in hardware with 10 bit colors. Furthermore, Googles VP9 codec can also be hardware decoded. The Pentium chips should already support HDCP 2.2 and therefore Netflix 4K. HDMI 2.0 however is still only supported with an external converter chip (LSPCon).

Power Consumption

The HD Graphics 610 can be found in mobile processors specified at 15 W TDP and is therefore suited for compact laptops and ultrabooks.

Intel UHD Graphics 630

The Intel UHD Graphics 630 (GT2) is an integrated graphics card, which can be found in various desktop and notebook processors of the Coffee-Lake generation. The "GT2" version of the GPU offers 24 Execution Units (EUs) and the clocks depend on the CPU model. Due to its lack of dedicated graphics memory or eDRAM cache, the UHD 630 has to access the main memory (2x 64-bit DDR3L-1600 / DDR4-2133). Compared to the older HD Graphics 630 (Kaby-Lake), the newer UHD GPU is identical but can be clocked slightly higher.

Performance

The exact performance of the UHD Graphics 630 depends on various factors like TDP, L3 Cache, memory (DDR3/DDR4) and maximum clock rate of the specific model. However, it should be fairly similar to the HD Graphics 530 and HD Graphics 630 and therefore only suited for low demanding games like Overwatch or Farming Simulator 2017 (low details).

Features

The features of the UHD 630 are the same as for the HD 630 and therefore H.265/HEVC Main10 profile at 10-bit color depth are supported in hardware. Furthermore, HDCP 2.2 is also supported in all chips, which allows Netflix 4K videos, for instance. HDMI 2.0 however is still only supported with an external converter chip (LSPCon).

Power Consumption

The UHD Graphics 630 can be found in several notebook and desktop processors of different TDP classes (35 - 91 W).

Intel Iris Graphics 550

The Intel Iris Graphics 550 (GT3e) is an integrated graphics unit of the Skylake generation. As successors of the Iris Graphics 6100 (Broadwell), the Iris Graphics 550 can be found in CPUs of 28-watt series and offers 64 MB of dedicated eDRAM memory. Furthermore, the so-called GT3e-version features 48 Execution Units (EUs) clocked at up to 1100 MHz (depending on the CPU model). Besides the eDRAM cache, the Iris 550 is able to access the main memory (2x 64bit DDR3L-1600 / DDR4-2133).

Compared to the Iris Graphics 540 of the 15-watt series, the Iris Graphics 550 differs only by its slightly higher maximum clock and a nearly doubled TDP, which allows a better utilization of the Turbo Boost.

Performance

The exact performance of the Iris Graphics 550 depends on various factors like L3 Cache size, memory (DDR3/DDR4) and maximum clock rate of the specific model. The fastest versions (Core i7-6567U) may compete with a dedicated GeForce 930M and will handle modern games (as of 2015) in low or medium settings.

Features

The revised video engine now decodes H.265/HEVC completely in hardware and thereby much more efficiently than before. Displays can be connected via DP 1.2 / eDP 1.3 (max. 3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz), whereas HDMI is limited to the older version 1.4a (max. 3840 x 2160 @ 30 Hz). However, HDMI 2.0 can be added using a DisplayPort converter. Up to three displays can be controlled simultaneously.

Power Consumption

The Iris Graphics 550 can be found in mobile processors specified at 28 W TDP and is therefore suited for medium-sized laptops and ultrabooks.